How to Create a Chart in Microsoft Excel

A simple chart in Excel can say more than a sheet full of numbers. As you'll see, creating charts is very easy.

Create a Line Chart:

To create a line chart, execute the following steps.

• Select the range A1:D7
• On the Insert tab, in the Charts group, choose Line, and select Line with Markers.

Result:

Change Chart Type

You can easily change to a different type of chart at any time.

• Select the chart.
• On the Insert tab, in the Charts group, choose Column, and select Clustered Column.

 Result:

Switch Row/Column

If you want the animals, displayed on the vertical axis, to be displayed on the horizontal axis instead, execute the following steps.

• Select the chart. The Chart Tools contextual tab activates.
• On the Design tab, click Switch Row/Column.

Result:

Chart Title

To add a chart title, execute the following steps.

• Select the chart. The Chart Tools contextual tab activates.
• On the Layout tab, click Chart Title, Above Chart.

Enter a title. For example, Population.

Result:

Legend Position

By default, the legend appears to the right of the chart. To move the legend to the bottom of the chart, execute the following steps.

• Select the chart. The Chart Tools contextual tab activates.
• On the Layout tab, click Legend, Show Legend at Bottom.

Result:

Data Labels

You can use data labels to focus your readers' attention on a single data series or data point.

• Select the chart. The Chart Tools contextual tab activates.
• Click an orange bar to select the Jun data series. Click again on an orange bar to select a single data point.
• On the Layout tab, click Data Labels, Outside End.

 Result: